Nonarcing electric lamp



W. A. M KAY ET AL NONARCING ELECTRIC LAMP Filed Jul 29. 1924 T RWILLBIEE&%CKAY CHARLES C GOLBY BY f ATTORNEY Patented New 1, l9

entree stares PATENT car es.

.WILLIAM AUGUSTIN MQKAY, F BIJOOMFIELD, AND CHARLES CILIFTGN COLBY, QB

NEWARK, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGTNORS TO PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WESTINGHOUSELAIVIP CGMPANY, A CUR- ROITARCING ELECTRIC LAMP.

Application filed July 29,

This invention relates to non-arcing electric lamps and moreparticularly to gasfilled lamps embodlng means for extinguishing anarcshould one formbetween the leading-in wires of the lamp upon failureof the filament.

The expression non-arcing lamp 1s used herein in a sense similar to thatin which the expression fireproof building is commonly used, it notbeing intended to imply that arcs will not occur in the non arcing lampsherein described, but rather, that those arcs which may occur will beextinguished within the lamp without doing any exterior damage.

In the operation of gas-filled lamps, and particularly in casesLwhere' anumber of lamps designed for a lower voltage are op- -erated in serieson circuits of 200 to 600 volts, or more, as in street lighting andstreet railway lighting practice, trouble has been experienced due tothe formation of destructive arcs between the leading-in wires when thefilament fails. It has been found in ractice that such. arcs may bemaintained ibr a considerable length of time, and may not only travelalong the leading-in wires to the stem press, but may actually burn apath through the stem press and continue into the base, fusing the baseinto the socket or even destroying the socket and injuring thesurrounding parts.

The tendency toward. the formation of such destructive arcs has beengreatly increased by the Widespread use of argon as a gaseous fillingfor lamps instead of nitrogen, as argon permits the formation andmamtenance of the are much more readily than does nitrogen. Argon,however, has particular advantages over nitrogen in other respects whichrender its use sirable.

In cases where a number of lamps are five 110 volt lamps are operated inseries on a 550 volt circuit, a considerable area might be thrown intodarkness should one lamp burn out, as this would leave the circuitthrough the remaining lamps open. It is desirable, therefore, in suchsystems, to provide means for closing the circuit around each lamp incase it burns out, either directly or through an equivalent resistance.-A number of devices for this purpose are inespecially deum. Serial No.728,838.

c'orporated either in the socket or in the socket-holderand require fortheir successful operation, the interruption of the current when thefilament .fails. The formation of an are between the leading-in wiresmay thus prevent these devices from functioning and may result in thedestruction of the auxiliary device as well as the socket.

One of the objects of the invention is to provlded. an incandescent lampso constructed as to be capable of extinguishing an are which may formtherein due. to the destruction of the filament' Another object is'toprovide an effective, non-arcing, gas-filled lamp which is nomicaltomanufacture.

Other objects and advantages will herematter appear.' I

In accordance with a preferred rform of I this invention, insulatingsleeves are provlded about the leading-1n wires 'or other conductorswithln the lamp, said sleeves be --ing adapted when an arc is formedbetween sions, it is not necessary that they be movable to' extinguishthe arc.

' In order that this'invention may be more fully understood, referencewill be had to.

the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a gas-filled lamp embodying thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modified -form of lamp; and,

Fig. 3is a perspective ther form of the lamp.

The lamp shown in Fig. 1 comprises a bulb 1 containing an inert gas suchas argon or nitrogen, a stem 2, arbor 3, leading-in wires 4 and 5, and afilament 6., The filament is welded or otherwise secured to the ends ofthe leading-in wires 4 and 5 and is supported at spaced pointsintermediate its length by supports 7 inserted into the arbor 3. On eachof the leading-in wires 4 and 5 view of a still fur wires have fusedback to the sleeves.

is placed a sleeve 8 of glass, quartz or other suitable insulatingmaterial. These sleeves are retained on the leading-in wires by metalcross pieces 9 welded or otherwise secured to the leading-in wiresalthough other suitable supporting means may be provided. The sleeves 8are preferably held tightly against the press of the stem of the lamp toprevent rattling and vibration thereof.

The lamp is designed to be operated with the base uppermost. 7

Should an arc form between the leading-in wires due to the destructionof the filament, it will, if it persists, follow up these wires as thelatter are fused away until one of the cross pieces 9 is reached. Thecross piece will then be consumed by the are releasing one or both ofthe sleeves 4: and 5, causing the same to drop suddenly and cutting oficommunication between the arching ends of the leading-in wires, therebyquickly extinguishing the arc;

These sleeves when made of glass, may be relatively large in order toinsure that they will drop qiiiickly when the supporting means has fusedaway, since otherwise, the

arc may pass directly up theleading-in.

wires, fusing away the glass sleeves in its path.

it has been found, however, that with quartz sleeves of the properdimensions, it is not essential that the sleeves move at all; the arc isextinguished without this motion, as soon as the arcing ends of theleading-in This, obviously permits the application of this invention tolamps burned base down, as well as to those burned base up.

Fig. 2 shows the use of positive means for causing the downward movementof the insulating sleeves upon the formation of an arc. A. helicalspring 11 is interposed between the upper end of each of the sleeves 8and the stem. press .10. These springs are retained under compressionand the sleeves held in upward position by bending the I leading-in wireoutwardly against the lower end of the sleeves as at 13. In this form,

when the arc is established, the outwardly bent ends of the wires arefirst consumed, releasing one or both of the sleeves 8 which are "forceddownwardly by the springs 11. The springs in addition to positivelyinsuring the movement of the sleeve along the leading-in wire, alsoserve to cushion any vibration or tendency of the sleeve to rattle.

in the modification of Fig. 3, the leadingin wires are bent outwardly asat 14 to form supoorts "for the sleeves 8, thus dispensing with thecross pieces 9' of Fig. 1. In this term, the springs have beeneliminated and the weight of the sleeves relied upon to cause thedownward movement thereof.

it will thus be noted that means have been provided for quickly andeffectively extineaves? guishing an arc, should it be formed and dangerof such are passing into the base of the lamp or into the socket iseliminated.

While this invention has been described as applied particularly to agas-filled lamp,

it is not so limited and may equally well be applied to vacuumincandescent lamps. It, has been "found, for instance, that in vacuumlamps in which an imperfect vacuum has been obtained or in the case ofleaky lamps, that the heat ot the filament may ionize the residual gastherein and de creases the resistance between the lead wiressufficiently to permit an arc discharge to pass therebetween which maycause destruction of the glass parts of the lamp.

These arcs are not as ersistent, however, asdn the case of gas-til edlamps and may be extinguished by coating the lead wire with a refractoryinsulating material, as zirconia, thoria, quartz or other suitablematerial which in powdered form, may be mixed with a suitable binder, aplied to the wire and baked or allowed to 'ry thereon, although, itdesired, a sleeve such as disclosed for gas-filled lamps may be used.

Obviously, this invention is not limited to the precise embodimentsillustrated and described herein, but is susceptible to othermodifications and variations may be made therein to adapt the same toother types-of lamps.

What is claimed is:

1. An incandescent electric lam having means for terminating electricaldischarges between the leading-in wires of the lamp comprising aninsulating barrier, means for normally supporting said barrier in agiven relative position with respect to said leading-in wires, saidsupporting means being movable upon the formation of a discharge betweensaid leading-in wires to release the barrier and interpose the same inthe path of the discharge.

2. An incandescent lamp having means for extinguishing arcs between theleading-in wires comprising an insulating barrier movable across thepath of the are.

3. An electric incandescent lamp comprising a filament having leading-inwires connected thereto, an insulating sleeve surrounding at least oneof said leading-in wires, means for holding said sleeve normally removedfrom said filament and means for moving said sleeve longitudinally ofsaid filament upon the destruction of said holding means resulting froman arc occurring between said leadingdn wires.

4. An incandescent lamp having means for extinguishing arcs across theleading-in wires comprising an insulating sleeve on each of saidleading-in wires said wires having portions thereof bent to support theinsulatmg sleeves, said sleeves being movable and adapted on the"formation of an arc to he its Hid

released formovement into the path of the arc. 4

5. In an incandescent lamp having a plurality of. conductors, means forext nguish.

ing'arcs between said conductors comprising a refractory insulatingmember mova le relative to at least one-of said conductors.

. 6. An incandescent lamp havingmeans for extinguishin arcs across theleading-in wires comprising insulating sleeves on said leading-in wires,means for normally holding said sleeves in elevated position and adaptedupon the formation of an arc to release at least one of said sleeves andcause it to traverse the path of the arc."

. 7. In an incandescent lamp having a plurality of conductors therein,means for extinguishing arcs between said conductors comprising aninsulating. sleeve means for holding said sleeve on said conductorsagainst gravity, said sleeves being releasable on the formation of anarc to rmit them to drop to interpose an insulating barrier in the pathof the arc. s

8. In anincandescent lamp, the combination with the leading-in wiresthereof, of insulating members, means for] normally holding said memberssubstantially station ary on said leading-in'wires' and adapted'to moveby reason of their potential energy on the formation of an are betweensaid leading-in wires to interpose an insulating barrier in the path ofthe arc.

' 9. In an incandescent lamp, the combina tion with the leading-in wiresthereof, of insulating members, means for holding said memberssubstantially stationary on said subscribed our names this 26th day ofJuly leading-in wires and means for causing said insulating members tomove longitudinally of the leading-wires on the formation of an arebetween said wires.

10. An incandescent lamp having means for extinguishing arcs between theleading-in wlres thereof comprising an insulating sleeve held on one ofsaid wires by deformation ofsaid wire said. sleeve beingmovable byreason of its potential energy when released by a destruction of the"deformed rtion of said wire under the fusing action '0 an arc.- 11. Anincandescent lamp having a stem, leading-in wires'sealedtherein andmeans for extinguishing ares between said leading-in wires. comprisinginsulating sleeves mounted on said leading-in wires and resilientmembers interposed between the ends of said sleeves and the stem of thelamp. 12. A gas-filled incandescent lamp havmg means for extinguishingarcs between the leading-in wires thereof comprising an insulatingbarrier and means for directing said barrier across the path of the arc.

'13. An incandescent electric lamp having conductors extending therein,a gaseous filling for said lamp containing argon and means movable underits potential energy .within saidlamp for extinguishing an arc should itform between said conductors.

14. An incandescent lamp having a fila- .ment and leading-in wiresconnected'thereto,

means for extinguishing arcs between the leading-in wires thereofcomprising a member mounted on said leading-in wires and movable thereon"means for holding said member remove from said filament and adapted todrop by reason of its otential energy when said holding meansisdiestroyed by an are between said leading-in wires.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto WILLIAM AUGUSTIN McKAY. CHARLESCLIFTON COLBY.

